Gold steady near 2-mth highs as N. Korea tensions continue

A batch of disappointing company earnings also helped pull the market lower, with consumer-focused companies and technology stocks among the biggest decliners.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 14 points, a gain of 0.07 percent, the Nasdaq composite rose almost 40 points or 0.64 percent and the S&P 500 gained 3 points or 0.13 percent.

The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.2 percent, to 6,370.46.

At 10:57 a.m. ET (1457 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 54.38 points, or 0.25 percent, at 21,898.39, the S&P 500 was up 8.69 points, or 0.35 percent, at 2,446.90.

US crude was unchanged at $48.59 per barrel and Brent was last at $51.84, down 1.63 percent on the day.

This week's increase in tension between North Korea and the US over North Korea's nuclear missile programme is a timely warning for investors to remain diversified, affirms a leading analyst.

Excluding food and energy prices, core consumer prices still crept up by 0.1 percent in July, matching the increases seen in the three previous months. But some economists say the Fed may stand pat for the rest of 2017 unless inflation accelerates in coming months.

Global stock markets ended their worst week in months amid rising tensions between the US and North Korea, though USA stock indexes steadied on Friday to close up slightly.

US President Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions with North Korea Friday, saying the military is "locked and loaded" to deal with North Korea's provocations.

There were fewer signs of anxiousness in the markets Friday.

"Risk aversion is once again the name of the game on Thursday, as geopolitical tensions mount and investors head for cover in the traditional safe havens". It's still the highest it's been since May. KLA-Tencor gained $2.62, or 3 percent, to $90.17. Investor ValueAct disclosed that it had acquired a 7.2 percent stake in the digital storage company. Seagate shares rose 74 cents to $32.29. The stock was the biggest gainer in the S&P 500.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 lost 1.11 percent. It also raised its outlook. The stock lost $2.80 to $9.04.

USA stock futures were pointing to a weaker open on Friday.

Shares in several other big media companies also declined.

The negative headlines provided many investors with an opportunity to pocket some of their recent gains following a string of record highs fueled by strong corporate earnings. Brighthouse Financial shed $1.05, or 1.8 percent, to $57.45.

In commodities trading, U.S. crude oil was wallowing around $49 to the barrel amid speculation that a predicted gain in American output will offset OPEC-led efforts to trim a global glut.

Gold for December delivery GCZ7, +0.93% rose $11.60, or 0.9%, to $1,290.90 an ounce. The contract fell 97 cents, or 2 percent, to close at $48.59 a barrel on Thursday. Humana rose $4.74, or 1.9 percent, to $254.96.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher.

The greenback also came under pressure after New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley cautioned it would "take some time" for USA inflation to reach the bank's two percent target, the latest warning price pressures remain muted.

Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has taken to social media platform Twitter to let know his verdict on the saga. No wonder Jurgen Klopp was in such a awful mood at his first pre-match press conference of the Premier League season.

Last week, SDF detachments fighting to take back control of the city from IS were just 300 feet apart, Pentagon officials said . Ryan Dillon tweeted that SDF forces have linked up "East-West axes" in Raqqa and are continuing to pressure IS.

Farah still doubled Great Britain's medal tally, remaining the only GB athlete to have won any honour at the home championships. That effort may well have taken more out of him that Farah himself had realised.

We had a very good first half, a good intensity like I wanted. "But it is going to finish, it is unsustainable ". We just made it [a strike-rate of] 60-70% for chances we created and that's poor. " I was confident then too ".

The Rams need playmakers for an offense that finished last in the National Football League over the past two seasons. He had a career best 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns on 60 receptions in 13 games during the 2015 season.

Analysts such as Ralph Schackart at William Blair have suggested investors should wait it out as Snap captures more interest. The company reported ($2.31) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the Zacks' consensus estimate of ($2.05) by $0.26.

Over the weekend, various white supremacy groups marched on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville . A group that goes by the " Detroit Right Wings " uses a red and right wing logo that is similar to the hockey team's logo.

Normal procedure calls for the commission to release final results after cross checking electronic tallies with paper forms. In Kisumu, an Odinga stronghold in the west, youths banged drums and tyres burned in the streets in the Kondele district.

Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight
So if you happen to be awake in the hours just before sunrise this weekend, head outside and see if you can spot the fiery show. There are other comet debris trails throughout the year that give us other meteor showers, such as the Leonids in November.

Nawaz Sharif asks people to guard democratic mandate
He was originally seen a placeholder for Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz, who is chief minister of Punjab. Umair Mazhar, 26, insisted no allegations of corruption had been proven against the former leader.